Box Score
Maggi Ford led the Bruins with 20 points and was one of four players in double figures for the team as the Bruins defeated Johnson and Wales University 76-52 on Tuesday night. "This win was really important for our team," Ford said. "We met a lot as a group and then with coach coming into this game because we'd be frustrated in knowing we could play so much better. Tonight, I feel will catapult us going forward to continue to play better." 

 

The Bruins came into the game with a 6-8 record having dropped four of their last five games. The team was looking to bounce back as they welcomed the Johnson and Wales University Wildcats to the Davis Field House. 

In the opening minutes, the Bruins got back-to-back baskets from Maggi Ford en route to jumping out to an 8-4 advantage. The Bruins were able to move the ball effectively on offense and stretched the Wildcat defense into giving up open looks. Defensively, the Bruins kept the Wildcats from getting good shots as the Bruins continued to hold the lead. Sarah Thomsen knocked down a three to give the Bruins a 17-11 lead after the first quarter. 

Defense was the story of the second quarter for the Bruins as the team forced turnovers which translated into baskets on the offensive end. The team continued to stay hot in shooting, but used an attack-the-rim strategy to get easy layups and trips to the line. After a Bhrianna Jackson layup, the Bruins gained their first double digit lead and rode the momentum to a comfortable 41-20 halftime advantage while only allowing the Wildcats 9 points in the entire quarter. 

"The most encouraging thing was that we knew we really hadn't clicked offensively yet, but we still had the lead," Coach LeViere said going into halftime. "We hadn't played our best basketball and so we knew we could play better. Our defense led to our offense and helped us build the lead." 

"We've all just been trying to work individually on our game," Brunson said. "We have the confidence within ourselves and trusting each other." 

The Wildcats came out determined to claw their way back into the game, but Ford and company continued to squelch each small run with a run of their own. Sha'Ron Brunson came off the bench and was 3-3 in the 2nd half from beyond the arc as the team continued to stay in control and put the game out of reach. "We've all just been trying to work individually on our game," Brunson said. "We have the confidence within ourselves and trusting each other." As the buzzer rang, the Bruins took a 56-36 lead into the final quarter of play. 

With the game pretty much in hand, the team continued to execute well offensively and controlled the glass on both sides of the ball. The Wildcats went on a small run to cut back into the lead, but the Bruins rode their hot shooting to hold on for a 76-52 win. 

Maggi Ford led the Bruins with 20 points and 5 rebounds while Bhrianna Jackson had 13, Kendra Jeffcott scored 11 and Hannah Tompkins had 10. The team won the rebounding margin 32-30 and forced the Wildcats into 21 turnovers on the night. With the win, the Bruins move to 7-8 on the season. Next up, the Lady Bruins will welcome Mid Atlantic Christian University on Saturday afternoon.